A luxury superyacht named the Bayesian sank in a storm off the coast of Sicily, with 22 people on board. Fifteen individuals were rescued by nearby boats and brought ashore by the coast guard, but six passengers, including British tech magnate Mike Lynch, Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer, and Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo, remained missing. The missing individuals, which also included family members, were believed to be trapped in the boat’s hull, which was resting some 164 feet underwater. Salvage teams and divers were conducting a search for the missing individuals, but were facing challenges due to obstructions and narrow access gates.
Italy’s national fire department reported that divers were able to enter the wreck during a late-night dive, exploring some cabins beneath the bridge of the ship. However, they encountered difficulties due to obstacles inside the ship and narrow passageways. Rescuers noted that there might be bodies inside the cabins, but they were unable to see through the ship’s portholes. Surface searches were ongoing, involving a helicopter and a fire brigade boat, in an effort to locate the missing individuals. The coast guard confirmed that the ship’s cook had died, though his nationality was not disclosed.
The missing individuals included a British tech magnate, a Morgan Stanley boss, and a lawyer from Clifford Chance. Mike Lynch, Jonathan Bloomer, and Chris Morvillo were among those unaccounted for, as well as their respective family members. Cocina of Sicily’s Civil Protection Agency provided the names of the missing individuals, but did not disclose their nationalities. Lynch’s daughter, and the wives of Bloomer and Morvillo, were also on board the superyacht. The coast guard confirmed that an Antiguan citizen, Ricardo Thomas, who served as the ship’s cook, had died as a result of the sinking.
Efforts continued to locate the missing individuals, with rescue teams and divers working to search for those trapped in the ship’s sunken hull. The challenging conditions inside the wreck, including obstacles and narrow passages, were presenting difficulties for the search and rescue operation. Despite the challenges, divers were able to access some of the cabins beneath the ship’s bridge, though visibility was limited. Surface searches were complementing the underwater efforts, utilizing a helicopter and a fire brigade boat to scan the area around the shipwreck. The investigation and recovery operation were ongoing, with hopes of locating the missing passengers and bringing closure to their families and loved ones.
